Allegiant, Third Book in Divergent Trilogy, Gets Two Films

It was just announced that “Allegiant,” the third book in Veronica Roth’s blockbuster “Divergent” trilogy, will be released as two films. Part 1 will hit theaters on March 18, 2016, and Part 2 on March 24, 2017.

Lionsgate will release a total of four “Divergent” films on its Summit Entertainment label, with the next film, “Insurgent,” which begins production next month, scheduled for release on March 20, 2015.

Good move? The cynical side of me pegs these types of decisions on money, with the idea that everyone involved in the films, from production companies to distributors to filmmakers and actors, will end up making more cash with an additional film. That’s a given.

But the fan side of me cheers that the franchise will last longer with more films and give fans more time in that universe. It also means they won’t have to pack as much into one film, and will have more time to flesh out the story and characters.

The first film in the “Divergent” franchise has grossed $117 million at the domestic box office in its first three weeks of release. It continues its international rollout this weekend with openings in France, Germany, Russia, Australia, Scandinavia and other major territories.

Book sales of the best-selling Divergent series – which takes place in a dystopian world – continue to skyrocket with total sales nearing 20 million worldwide and sales of the three-book boxed set and three-book e-bundle increasing 55 percent last week. The three books ranked one-two-three on USA Today’s best-seller list for 2013.

Summit’s “The Hunger Games” and “The Twilight Saga” franchises have collectively grossed more than $5 billion at the worldwide box office, and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” is the 10th highest-grossing film of all time. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” Parts 1 & 2 will be released on November 21, 2014 and November 20, 2015, respectively.

Jane Boursaw is the founder and editor-in-chief of Reel Life With Jane. Her credits include hundreds of print and online publications, including The New York Times, People Magazine, Variety, Moviefone, TV Squad and more. Follow her on Twitter at @reellifejane.